Caitlin E. McDonough is an attorney and registered lobbyist with over 16 years of experience in Annapolis, working with the Maryland General Assembly and several administrations. Since joining the HJM team in 2012, she has advocated passionately on an array of issues, particularly the development and implementation of fair and reasonable regulatory schemes for new, innovative technologies and business models. McDonough represents a variety of significant industry players, including major pharmaceutical manufacturers, telecommunication and energy service providers, financial institutions, and health and property insurers.

Thomas Tompsett, Jr. is a seasoned trial attorney and registered lobbyist who joined Harris Jones & Malone in the spring of 2017. Tompsett's reputation for honesty, coupled with a fiery competitive spirit, has made him a successful and respected attorney and advocate. Since joining HJM, Tompsett has been deeply engaged in a spectrum of public policy matters, which include, but are not limited to, business regulation and taxation, transportation, mental health, laboratory testing, domestic violence, construction law, land use and zoning, real property, and public education. As a lobbyist, Tompsett strives not only to shape sensible policy for his clients but to assist them in raising their profiles both in Annapolis and throughout the State of Maryland.

Tompsett also maintains a boutique criminal defense and administrative law practice with a manageable caseload to give the legal matters of his clients the meaningful attention they deserve. Tompsett's criminal practice areas include misdemeanor and felony charges such as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while impaired (DWI), theft, assault, controlled dangerous substance (CDS) distribution and/or possession, white-collar crimes, and homicides in every county in the State of Maryland. Analytical, yet conversational, Tompsett can convey complex legal theories in straightforward, relatable terms. For all these reasons, Tompsett is a crucial complement to Harris Jones & Malone's team of skilled and highly respected advocates.

In 2000, Harris Jones founded Harris Jones & Malone, LLC. To date, she remains the first and only Black woman in the State of Maryland to own and manage a law practice with a focus in lobbying, government relations, procurement, labor negotiations, criminal defense, and administrative trial board representation at both the state and local levels. Harris Jones & Malone proudly serves municipalities and related quasi-public agencies, non-profits, and small and large business enterprises, both publicly and privately held. Currently, Harris Jones & Malone represents clients on issues concerning, but not limited to construction, energy, water, retail sales, education, transportation, public safety, healthcare, gaming, real estate, telecommunications, procurement, corporate law, state funding for public and private development projects, taxation, labor, insurance, public interest, election, and environmental law.

Due to her hard work and tireless advocacy, Harris Jones is widely regarded as a lobbyist with the ability to effect real change in the legislative process, regardless of the size of her client or the perceived power of her opponent. As a result of her successful track record, her clients have enabled her to become the first Black attorney/lobbyist to be consistently ranked in the top five earning lobbyists in Maryland following the conclusion of each legislative session since 2009.

Harris Jones has worked on high profile matters such as the repeal of Maryland's Death Penalty, the enactment of the Civil Marriage Protection Act, and in 2019, the Community Safety and Strengthening Act, which authorizes Johns Hopkins University to establish a university police department.

Among her many legislative accomplishments, Harris Jones lobbied successfully for the passage of a priority lien bill on behalf of the Community Associations Institute Maryland Legislative Action Committee (CAI), an organization representing common ownership communities. For many years, CAI had battled with financial institutions over this critical legislation. In only her second legislative session representing CAI, Harris Jones was able to facilitate an agreement and secure the votes needed to pass the bill. This law allows condominium associations to recover up to four months of association fees at the time of a foreclosure sale. Hard hit by the downturn in the housing market, association fees are vital to the financial stability of all common ownership communities.

Harris Jones is a Member of the Board of Trustees/Directors of three publicly traded companies: Industrial Logistics Properties Trust, Diversified Healthcare Trust, and TravelCenters of America, LLC. She also serves on the Board of Trustees/Directors of Everyman Theatre and Baltimore Museum of Art. In 2021, Harris Jones was listed as one of The Daily Record's Power 100. She was also recognized by Savoy Magazine as one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors, an international honor. In 2019 Harris Jones received the Current Leader Award from the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland, Inc. In 2016, Harris Jones received the Friend of Dyslexia Award for Outstanding Dyslexia Advocacy and also received the Maryland Government Relations Association's Community Service Award. Since 2000, Harris Jones has earned the following honors: YWCA Greater Baltimore's Special Leader Award, The Daily Record's Leadership in Law Award, The Baltimore Sun's 50 Women to Watch in 2013, The Daily Records Maryland's Top 100 Women in 2005 and 2009, The Baltimore Business Journal's 40 under 40, The Baltimore Times' Top 25 Young Leaders to Watch, and the Maryland Coalition for Responsive Government's 21st Century Woman distinction.

Jay is one of the state's most respected business lobbyist. His imprint can be found on insurance, energy, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, employment law and wide range of statutes and regulations considered by the General Assembly and Illinois state government for nearly forty years.

Sean R. Malone is renowned as a complex problem solver and viewed as a savvy and passionate advocate before all three branches of Maryland government. He is also a highly respected attorney representing clients with public policy, legal, government and labor related problems.

Throughout the course of his 22+ year legal career, Malone has enjoyed significant and numerous victories in the courtroom, at the negotiation table and in the halls of state and local government. Malone was a member of the trial team that secured the high-profile acquittal of a wrongly accused Baltimore City police officer at both the criminal and administrative levels, negotiated labor contracts for both Democrat and Republican elected officials in Baltimore County, Howard, Harford, and Anne Arundel Counties, Newark and Dover, Delaware, successfully tried arbitration cases on behalf of Anne Arundel County, worked with a team to defeat legislation designed to remove the historic Preakness Stakes from Baltimore, and was a vital member of the negotiating team on the Sagamore Development Company's successful effort to obtain $535 million in tax increment financing from Baltimore City.

Malone was named a 'Maryland Influencer' by Campaigns & Elections Magazine for his work around the state and for the past 12 years and has ranked among Maryland's most prominent lobbyists. Before joining HJM, Malone had a prolific career in public service working as: the Deputy Legislative Officer in the Governor's Office of Legislative Affairs; the State's Chief Labor Negotiator; the Labor Commissioner for Baltimore City; and a member of the command staff for the Baltimore Police Department serving as the Department's Chief Legal Counsel and Chief of Professional Standards. Malone has successfully litigated cases before administrative trial boards, arbitrators, the Baltimore Circuit Court, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and the Court of Appeals. Malone honed his litigation skills as an Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore County after graduating magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Nothing in government happens by accident. To deal with government successfully, creative and effective representation is needed. We are an aggressive lobbying group that anticipates problems and develops strategies to achieve our clients' objectives. Whether our representation is to pass legislation or stop legislation, prevent a crisis or respond to a crisis, we have the ability and experience to achieve our clients' goals and objectives. Our success is in our proven track record. We are a strong bipartisan team that is one of Connecticut's most highly respected government relations practice groups and are recognized for effective and articulate promotion of the interests of our clients.

Firm Specialties:
Unlike most Connecticut lobbying firms, we unite the legal, lobbying and public affairs disciplines through unique experience and intimate familiarity with the legislative and lawmaking process of the State of Connecticut. It is an asset that separates the Firm from its competitors. Few, if any, public affairs corporations offer our capability and professionalism.

We also provide legislative monitoring and personal tracking of legislative issues and proposals, and employ specially-trained staff for the purposes of following pending bills, legislative hearings, committee meetings, amendments and other items of interest.

FOCUS Government Affairs @ UKS is a full service government relations firm that draws upon the knowledge and experience of attorneys, former executive branch officials, and specialists whose collective expertise is made available to all our governmental affairs clients. This team-based approach ensures that the proper resources are determined and committed, so that our government affairs clients receive the most efficient, cost-effective professional services possible.

We provide a broad spectrum of legislative, regulatory, administrative and executive lobbying and consulting services to a wide range of clients. Because we have over 60 years of experience working with and within government, we are experts on the legislative process and can skillfully negotiate with staff and elected officials. In addition, our strong relationships with federal, state and local elected officials allow us to effectively assist our clients in their dealings with all levels of government.

FOCUS Government Affairs has strategic relationship with Connecticut-based law firm Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, PC that allow us to provide an additional level of service including legal advice, counsel, and legal assistance to corporate, institutional, municipal, and individual clients.

Eric is a highly accomplished senior executive, consultant, attorney, lobbyist and board member with 20 years of success in public policy, politics, law, government, healthcare, financial services, transportation and the nonprofit sector. He previously held a position as an associate at Drinker Biddle & Reath where he helped start the government relations and lobbying group.